Shoe heel



June 9, 1931. EHRENFRlED' 1,809,405

SHOE HEEL Filed May 3, 1929 .XI Z60 1 flrendfcced Patented June 9, 1931resent FICE ALBERT EHEENFBIED, OF BOSTON, IEASSACHUSETTS SHOE HEELApplication filed May 3,

This invention'relates to shoe heels and more particularly to shoe heelswhich tend to correct foot evils or prevent them from arising as will behereinafter more clearly apparent.

Manyprior devices are known which are designed to correct foot evils orto supply deficiencies of structure or form to an inadequate orincorrect shoe or an incompetent or abnormal foot. The prior deviceshave been found insufficient to accomplish the objects of the supportinvented by the applicant.

Thevdevice of the present invention not only overcomes thedisadvantages, of prior devices but offers additional manifoldadvantages peculiar to its construction.

Among the objects and advantages of the present invention are the reliefof footstrain; the overcoming pain or discomfort in the foot and anklesdue to pronation of the foot, weakness or laxity of the ligaments ortendons of the foot and ankle, or sprain or injury thereof; theprevention of flat-foot and the relief of symptoms in the foot or legcaused thereby; the encouragement of proper walking in children andyouths so as to prevent foot disabilities and secondary staticdisturbances in later years; the compensation for or overcoming ofdefects in design or con struction of shoes tending to give rise to footstrain, pronation, flat-foot and associated or related disabilities; thereplacement of flatfoot plates, felt, rubber, leather, and other insteppads, tilted shoes, extended (Thomas or orthopedic) heels, extended andreinforced counters, steel shanks, elastic girdle supports and otherdevices of similar or like nature and purpose; the exercise ofcorrective or supporting action in affections involving adistortion ofthe foot or interference with 10- comotion, such as congenitalflat-foot, equino-valagus and certain types of paralysis, and, when reersed on the shoe, equinoarus, of congenital or paralytic origin; and

the support of the foot in convalescents, in

rheumatics, after removal of' leg casts or other apparatus, in the weakand aged, and in those whose occupation demands much standing, Walkingor carrying.

A preferred embodiment of my invention 1929. Serial No. 860,687.

is found in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 illustrates thedevice in position w1th a portion broken away to show a form of securingmeans;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device per se;

Flgure 3 1s a plan view of the device; Figure f is bottom view thereof;

Figure 5 is a View looking from the right of Figure 2 toward the rear;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section through one of the protuberances andattachmg means; and

Figures 7 and washers used.

8 are concentric or eccentric Similar numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

The invention, which may be applied or adapted to mens,

shoes or to shoes of special design or use womens, or childrens withsubstantially equal facility, comprehends the prov1s1on of a forwardraised portion 2 preferably integral with a heel 1 and designed to giveresilient support to the arch of the foot- Figure 1 shows the instanding or walking.

relation of the device to the heel and arch of a shoe 3. r

The heel 1 is extended forwardly for sub stantially one-third of itslength along its its outline being brought inner edge,

so that it reaches the no gradually at at forward edge 5 ofthe heel'lsomewhat interborder 6, in such a manner nally of its outer that itsgreatest projection is in front o inner portion of theheel and thereforestantially under the navicular bone of the tarsus.

back rmal f the subor sc'aphoid The portion 2 which extends beyond theforward edge 5 of the heel 1 is made thicker and is so constructed thatfora width of about one-half of the heel its upper surface 7 comes incontact with the undersurfa'ceof v shank 8 of shoe 3, from which thethickness gradually reduces as at 18 until it reaches the normalsomewhat intern ally to the outer edge;

6 of heel 1 (Fig. 5).

The line of the vertical posterior wall of'the forward elevated portion2 may bebroken at a point 9 from about one-quarter to one -half theWidth of the heel from its inner edge in such a Way that it slopesobliquely backwardly at 10. This portion of the Wall may be vertical oroblique and in this case the leather heel is shaped so that its innerforward corner is cut away with a vertical or oblique cut to fit thecontour of the device.

The thickness of the device may be symmetrical so that its upper andlower plane surfaces are essentially parallel or it may be so designedthat these surfaces are not parallel, in which case the lower surfacemay slope so that the device is thicker on the inner border 11 than 011the outer 6, or so that it is thicker at the anterior edge than at therear, symmetrically or asymmetrically, or these two slopes can becombined symmetrically or asymmetrically, so that approximately theforward inner point 12 becomes the lowest point in the inferior planesurface of the de'- vice. (Fig. 52.

The form 0 the device may be modified as required to adapt it to womensand childrens shoes, spring heels, rubber soled shoes, sneakers,slippers, or other footwear. If the heel of the shoe is too low to usethe appliance, the heel may be built up to a proper height. If it is toohigh, a portion can be removed.

The device may be attached to the leather heel design and the shank ofthe shoe by cement or other adhesive, or by means of nails or screws 14which are inserted through holes or perforations in the rubber preparedtherefor, about which holes there are, imbedded in the rubber, flatmetal washers 13 in the usual manner, except that, with reference to theholes or perforations near the forward edge of the leather heel, thewashers may be made larger or of eccentric design 15, so that someportion thereof projects over into that segment of the rubber heel whichdoes not underlie the leather heel; or a section of fabric or Wire, orother supporting material (not shown) may be incorporated into therubber for the purpose of reinforcing the device, and particularly theforward free section thereof, and of strengthening its attachment to theleather heel, or the forward free section can be attached to the shankdirectly by means of a nail or rivet, or to the heel behind it by meansof a nail inserted horizontally.

There is a tread on'the under surface of the device consisting ofprojections arranged in some design. These may be a number of circularwelt-like protuberanees 16, if desired,

about the perforations for the nails or screws which will serve toprevent slipping, to increase the length of life of the device, and toadd to its resilience. \Vith reference to the anterior edge of the heel,the perforations (and the surrounding circular welts) shall be )lacednear the interior edge of the leather eel so as to give the strongestpossible sup port'and attachment to the forward free portion of therubber heel; and that at the forward inner corner 12, representing theprojected segment of the rubber heel, there may be another circulardownward projection 17, perforated or unperforated, of the samethickness as the projections of the tread and tocompensate therefor.

All the above is intended to be more illustrative than limitative sothat I do not limit myself thereto except contained in the subjoine dclaim.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use What I desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An arch support, comprising a main portion adapted to be attached to theheel of a shoe to form the top lift thereof, and a forward portionextending under the inner edge of the shank of the shoe to support theinner longitudinal arch of the foot, the said forward portion beingtapered in Width and height longitudinally from the heel end and inheight transversely from the inner side, the said portion contactingthroughout with. the shank of the shoe, the said forward portion havinga protuberance extending below the normal tread surface of the heel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 17th day of April,1929.

ALBERT EHRENFRIED.

